Glen Grove Elementary School

November 14, 2006

Meeting called to order at 6:34 PM.

Present: Mary Riley, Julie Wrona, Lisa Antzis, Merryl Brownlow, Merle Shein, Kelly Konrad, Jodi Kay, Shelly Quill, Tina Skoubis, Richard Kim, Lori Hinton

Treasurer’s Report: Julie Wrona reported. Current balance is $72,324, after the major expenses are paid out the balance will be $8,730. We are still in the process of closing two checking accounts once all the checks clear.

Principal’s Report –
Glen Grove Merryl Brownlow reported.
• Enrollment: 3rd – 137, 4th – 129, 5th – 125, NSSED – 9, Total – 400
• Halloween celebrations were successful with parades and parties. The Harvest Fest was held in the LRC.
• Picture day retakes will be Dec. 7.
• The monthly assembly was held on Nov. 3 presented by the Voyager team. The message was to be happy with who you are and not try to be someone else.
• Celebrating Red Ribbon Week gave our students the opportunity to learn about making good choices and staying drug free.
• For Veteran’s Day Mrs. LeSage helped students create a bulletin board to honor the many family members who are veterans.
• Star Lab came to visit on Nov. 2. The students loved the presentation. It was an amazing way to bring the night sky to life for our students.
• Selected Glen Grove students participated in IMEA on Nov. 4. The students did a wonderful job representing our music program at the regional level.
• On Nov. 20, Glen Grove showcased our World Drumming program at the School Board meeting. Each month a school is chosen to perform for the School Board.
• On Nov. 16 there was facility informational meeting presenting plans for the proposed addition to Glen Grove.
• On Nov. 7, was a professional development day where teachers spent time working on our School Improvement Plan and Technology Integration. Nov. 22 will be dedicated to our Balanced Literacy Initiative. Dec. 1 will be training for the Peace Jam program and strategies for working with ELL students.

Westbrook Lori Hinton reported.
• Good citizenship was the subject of the monthly assembly. Each month one team designs and presents the assembly. The last assembly can be viewed from the website.
• This week, we will kick off the Westbrook Wall of Character. This is an all school project designed to acknowledge examples of the Character Counts pillars “in action”.
• Professional Development days in November addressed meeting the needs of students in the area of literacy and using technology to support student learning. This year, through the GEF funding the first grade team is working with a literacy coach to design guided reading lessons for students.
• Local School Council will meet this week to finalize plans for supporting the cluster’s literacy goal. Possibilities include: a Westbrook/Glen Grove Book Badge Program (supported by the Glenview Public Library) and creating a “bookworm” to celebrate all of the books we read each year.
• Halloween activities were a success. Thanks to everyone who pitched in and helped with the planning and supervision.

Committee Reports:

Book Fair: The Fair earned $15,000 and the PTA receives 50% of the profits. The money will go to Birthday Club books, classrooms and the library.

Pizza Bingo: The evening made a profit of $996 that was donated to the Debra Gelfand Fund.

Market Days: This month raised $320 for the PTA. Volunteers are always needed for the pick up day. Please contact Camille Horvat at 729-6564.

Movie Night: Glen Grove will host the first movie night in February. Westbrook’s movie night will be in April. The students will be voting on the movie to be played.

Dinner Dance: Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs such as: day of event, closing, stuffing envelopes, decorations, and solicitations. Please contact Shelly Quill at 904-7598 or Tina Skoubis at 724-0768 or Michelle Kryscio at 657-8053. The live auction and menu are completed. Invitations will be sent out on Dec. 15. The event will be held on Feb. 9. The price will be $50 per person and $25 for staff. Auction Pay was purchased by the PTA which will ease the congestion at check out time. You will be able to check in a credit card when you arrive and your winning bid will automatically be entered via Auction Pay.

Dining for Dollars: The December fundraiser will be held at Potbelly’s and the PTA will receive 50% of the profits of that evening.

Board of Education Meeting – Nov. 6

- Research on the relationship between class size and students achievement was presented. Comments and impact statements from staff and principals were also shared.
-The District can stay above the Board mandated 30% reserve policy through the 2010-11 school year.
-4 seats are open for the next school year. 2 members want to renew and 1 is undecided and 1 seat is needed. The election will be in April.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50. Submitted by Lisa Antzis